The decision to anoint her was taken at a crucial meeting of RJD MPs, MLAs, MLCs and senior party functionaries at Rabri Devi's residence on Sunday. "Prasad is our leader and will remain so in future...In his absence Rabri will guide us as she had done in the past," Yadav told reporters after emerging from the meeting.

Prasad is currently lodged in a Ranchi jail after being convicted in fodder scam case by a CBI court which handed him five years' imprisonment. Expressing faith in the higher judiciary and in the people, Yadav, a trusted lieutenant of the couple, said, "Prasad will come out unscathed (when he moves the high court) and will lead us once again in future."

The RJD leaders and workers have pledged to remain united in this "hour of crisis" and expressed their determination to expose the conspiracy of JD-U and BJP to get Prasad framed in the fodder scam case.

The party leaders and workers would go to villages and tell the people about the "conspiracy", he said adding "We will expose both JD-U and BJP and give a befitting reply to the communal forces."

RJD national spokesman Iliyas Hussain said the reins of the party still remained in the "strong hands" of Prasad. "He remains the undisputed leader of the party today and will be so in future as well."

Rabri Devi will be the party's guiding force and RJD will carry out its scheduled programmes as usual, he added.

Rabri Devi not to contest Lok Sabha elections

Rabri Devi also declared that she won't contest from the Saran Lok Sabha constituency after the jailing of her husband who represented it.

"I will not contest elections either from Saran or any other seat," Rabri Devi told reporters. Lalu Prasad was disqualified as MP after being convicted and jailed in the 1996 fodder scam. He won from Saran in 2009 and 2004.

Rabri Devi added that her daughter Misa Bharti too would not contest from Patna. Rabri Devi has announced that Lalu Prasad would continue to lead the RJD from prison. Lalu Prasad, former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra and 43 others have been convicted of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 37 crore from the state treasury.